I came across an interesting article about the size of American homes last week and wanted to share it with you. I know that the Greater Vancouver housing market can’t be compared with the American housing market in general but there are some very interesting things to be noted from the recent National Association of Homebuilders survey.

They estimate that by 2015 new single family homes will be 10% smaller. The “new smaller home” in 2015 will have several smart new features such as programmable thermostats, energy-efficient electricity, and water-efficient features, low-emissivity windows and engineered wood beams.

Click here to see the infographic with all the details.

The article suggests that people are getting anxious over downsizing but I

If you are considering purchasing a home in Surrey, I invite you to join the neighborhood!

Having grown up in Surrey (where I still reside) I can assure you there are a number of great neighborhoods to consider. Each neighborhood has unique benefits and feature that there is bound to be one that meets all of your family's lifestyle needs.

One of the best things about Surrey is that it is so close to everything. Living between the Fraser Valley and Vancouver you have quick access to almost every community in Greater Vancouver as well as the US border crossings. And the setting is stunning – you will never grow tired of seeing the North Shore Mountains and Mt. Baker all while living close to the Pacific Ocean.

“Many Canadians feel now is a great time to buy a home, but not for them personally.”

This was the general consensus found by a recent survey conducted by the Royal Bank of Canada. Of the 2,006 participants surveyed, 59% say now is the time to get into the housing market yet 73% say they are unlikely to buy a house in the next two years.

These results tell me that Canadians have mixed feelings about the real estate market and aren’t quite sure where the market is headed. This uncertainty makes it hard to know whether to buy now or to wait it out.

Greater Vancouver Real Estate Market

According to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, Greater Vancouver home sales this past month dipped below the 10-year average for the area and home

If you are into popular TV shows such as “Love or List It” or “Extreme Home Makeover” maybe you are considering making a few improvements around your home. Whether you plan to live in your house for a number of years and enjoy the renovations or you plan to sell your home in the next year you should evaluate the total cost of the renovation.

A great way to do this is estimate the return or how much the project can potentially increase the value of your home. Here is a list of my recommended projects based on how I see my clients react to renovations they see during viewings and open houses.